How much of a role does water play in conflict, and how do you solve such challenges? These are the key questions at the heart of the third "Big ideas into action" podcast from WRI. 

This week we focus on the work of the Water, Peace and Security partnership, drawing together everything from on-the-ground insights to AI and big data to identify where water stresses are likely to lead to conflict, and then help resolve conflicts once they have broken out.

You can find more of our relaunched "Big ideas into action" podcasts at You can also find us at www.wri.org/podcasts.

The paper mentioned, "Ending conflicts over water", can be found here: https://www.wri.org/publication/ending-conflicts-over-water 

You can follow the work of the Water, Peace and Security partnership at https://twitter.com/waterpeacesec and https://waterpeacesecurity.org

The sounds from the war in Yemen that you can hear at the start of the podcast are from "Yemen's forgotten war", part of the BBC World Service's highly-recommended Assignment series of radio documentaries. You can listen to it in full here: - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0325f2f

Big ideas into action #3: solving water-related conflict

"Big Ideas Into Action" is the relaunched podcast from the World Resources Institute, bringing you the big ideas that combat the world's most pressing environmental and developmental challenges. You'll hear the voices of those meeting the challenges on the ground across the globe and find out about the way we're finding the answers and translating them into action. 

We'll be podcasting in series of six to eight at a time, once a week, with occasional special episodes to add our insights and analysis in response to big events. 

The World Resources Institute works around the globe to turn big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We focus on seven urgent global challenges that must be addressed to reduce poverty, grow economies and protect natural systems: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, cities, and the ocean.

Brief chats that go beyond the daily headlines discussing global events, recent reports, and the latest analysis from HCSS experts.

HCSS is a data driven, independent think tank that provides strategic advice and policy relevant solutions for governments, NGOs and the private sector on global trends, security and geo-economics. All rights reserved.

The Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership was founded in 2018 to pioneer the development of innovative tools and services that help identify and address water-related security risks. These tools and services can link hydrological, social, economic and political factors to pinpoint changes in short-term water availability and provisionally assess their potential impacts on society. Based on this information, evidence-based actions can be triggered to prevent or mitigate human security risks. The WPS can also facilitate this process by raising awareness, developing capacities and supporting dialogue that together underpin effective coordinated action.

Big ideas into action #3: solving water-related conflict

WRI's Big Ideas Into Action podcast